1. Know the difference between check, checkmate, and stalemate!
Checkmate is of course the goal of chess. If a king is in check and can’t get out of check, it’s
checkmate. Game over. The side with the checkmated king loses. On the other hand, a simple
check can be a good move or bad. It’s simply an attack on the enemy king that can be escaped.
Keep in mind that stalemates result in a drawn game! If it’s your move but you have no legal
moves—and you’re not in check—you’re in stalemate!
There are many online sources about check, checkmate, and stalemate:
Here’s a good one about checkmate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate
Here’s a good one about stalemate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalemate
Here’s one that covers check, checkmate, and stalemate:
http://www.thechessdrum.net/chessacademy/CA_Checkmate.html
2. Know the material values for the chess pieces and be able to calculate “who’s ahead”!
You should know that a queen is worth more than a rook so that you know when to trade and
when not to. But is a queen worth more than two rooks? Not generally. Below are the piece
values most often given to guide a beginner. Be able to answer the question “Who’s ahead in
material, Black or White?”
queen = 9
rook = 5
bishop = 3
knight = 3
pawn = 1
The king is not given a point-value because it is infinitely valuable.
Here’s an online resource:
http://www.chesscorner.com/tutorial/basic/capture/capture.htm
3. Know the “rule of the square.”
Since many games are won by promoting a pawn to a queen, you must know when a king can
catch any enemy pawn before it reaches the last rank!
Here’s an online resource:
http://www.chess.com/blog/ValeRock/endgame---the-pawn-square-rule
4. Know the ideas of basic chess tactics!
There are tactical ideas that win most chess games. The most common are double attack, pin,
and skewer. Know the ideas behind these three basic tactics and be able to apply them.
Here’s a good online source for the basic tactics used on the quiz. Be sure to page through all
four—en prise (this fancy phrase just means an undefended piece), fork (the same thing as
double attack), pin, and skewer!
http://chess.about.com/od/tipsforbeginners/ss/BasicTactics.htm
5. Know what “best play” means!
Some puzzles may ask you if White can force checkmate or the win of a piece with best play.
“Best play” means that each side makes its very best moves. So if one side can checkmate or
win a piece by best play, there is no escape! Sometime this idea is called “forced” play—for
example, in the question “How can White win a piece by force?
Checkmate is of course the goal of chess. If a king is in check and can’t get out of check, it’s
checkmate. Game over. The side with the checkmated king loses. On the other hand, a simple
check can be a good move or bad. It’s simply an attack on the enemy king that can be escaped.
Keep in mind that stalemates result in a drawn game! If it’s your move but you have no legal
moves—and you’re not in check—you’re in stalemate!
There are many online sources about check, checkmate, and stalemate:
Here’s a good one about checkmate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate
Here’s a good one about stalemate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalemate
Here’s one that covers check, checkmate, and stalemate:
http://www.thechessdrum.net/chessacademy/CA_Checkmate.html
2. Know the material values for the chess pieces and be able to calculate “who’s ahead”!
You should know that a queen is worth more than a rook so that you know when to trade and
when not to. But is a queen worth more than two rooks? Not generally. Below are the piece
values most often given to guide a beginner. Be able to answer the question “Who’s ahead in
material, Black or White?”
queen = 9
rook = 5
bishop = 3
knight = 3
pawn = 1
The king is not given a point-value because it is infinitely valuable.
Here’s an online resource:
http://www.chesscorner.com/tutorial/basic/capture/capture.htm
3. Know the “rule of the square.”
Since many games are won by promoting a pawn to a queen, you must know when a king can
catch any enemy pawn before it reaches the last rank!
Here’s an online resource:
http://www.chess.com/blog/ValeRock/endgame---the-pawn-square-rule
4. Know the ideas of basic chess tactics!
There are tactical ideas that win most chess games. The most common are double attack, pin,
and skewer. Know the ideas behind these three basic tactics and be able to apply them.
Here’s a good online source for the basic tactics used on the quiz. Be sure to page through all
four—en prise (this fancy phrase just means an undefended piece), fork (the same thing as
double attack), pin, and skewer!
http://chess.about.com/od/tipsforbeginners/ss/BasicTactics.htm
5. Know what “best play” means!
Some puzzles may ask you if White can force checkmate or the win of a piece with best play.
“Best play” means that each side makes its very best moves. So if one side can checkmate or
win a piece by best play, there is no escape! Sometime this idea is called “forced” play—for
example, in the question “How can White win a piece by force?